Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Jee! Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Jee!

sathigur naanak pragattiaa mittee dhhu(n)dhh jag chaanan hoaa ||
With the emergence of the True Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around.

From The Sikh Religion by legendary author Max Arthur MacAuliffe:

CHAPTER IX

The Guru and Mardana again set out on thier travels. It is said that they went to the west and crossed the rivers Ravi and Chanab, and, after a long circuitous route through a desert country, made their way again to Pak Pattan to pay another visit to Shaikh Brahm.  They sat down to rest about four miles from the city.  Shaikh Kamal, a pious and God-fearing disciple of Shaikh Brahm, who had gone into the forest for firewood, observed the Guru and his attendant.  The latter was playing his rebeck (rabab), and singing the following:–

Thou are the tablet, O Lord, Thou are the pen, and Thou art also the writing. 
Speak of the one God; O Nanak, why should there be a second? [Malhaar Kee Vaar]

Shaikh Kamal went and, after obeisance, sat down near them, and asked to have the couplet repeated. This was done, and he learned it by heart. He then took up the firewood he had collected and went home. He told his master of his adventure, and repeated the couplet for him. Shaikh Brahm was highly pleased that the Guru had again visited his country, and he promptly proceeded to welcome him. After mutual salutations, the Guru thanked God for having again granted him a sight of Shaikh Brahm. After some friendly conversation, the Shaikh asked the Guru to explain the couplet. ‘Nanak, thou sayest, “There is only one God; why should there be a second?” I say:–

‘There is one Lord and two ways;
Which shall I adopt, and which reject?

The Guru replied:–

There is but one Lord and one way;
Adopt one and reject the other.
Why should we worship a second who is born and dieth?
Remember the one God, Nanak, who is contained in sea and land.

The Muhammadan priest then said in turn:–

Tear thy coat into tatters and wear a blanket instead;
Adopt a dress by which thou mayest obtain the Lord.
- Fareed’s Saloks 

The Guru traversed this instruction: ‘It is not necessary for me to tear my coat or adopt a religious garb. Men who reside at home and work in their ordinary costume shall find the Lord if they fix their hearts on Him;’

A young wife sitteth at home, her Beloved is abroad; she continually thinketh of Him and pineth away. She shall have no delay in meeting Him if she have good intentions. [Vadhans Kee Vaar]

Shaikh Brahm replied to the latter couplet:–

When she was little, she enjoyed not her Spouse; when she grew up she died.
Lying in the grave she calleth out, ‘I have not met Thee, O Lord.’ [Fareed's Saloks]

Guru Nanak then gave utterance to the following, to the effect that salvation depends upon virtue and not on a pleasing exterior or the possession of accomplishments:–

A woman may be stupid, untidy, black, and impure-minded;
Yet, if she possess merits, she meeteth her Beloved; otherwise, Nanak, the woman is to blame.

The Shaikh then put the following questions

What is that word, what that virtue, what that priceless spell;
What dress shall I wear by which I may captivate the, Spouse? [Fareed's Saloks]

The Guru replied:–

Humility is the word, forbearance the virtue, and civility the priceless spell.
Make these three thy dress, O sister, and the Spouse shall come into thy power. [Fareed's Saloks]
The Spouse shall be hers who serveth Him.
Forsaking all His other companions He will go to her.

The Shaikh then said he wanted a knife–’Give me such a knife as will make those who are killed with it acceptable to God. With the ordinary knife in use the lower animals are killed, and if a man’s throat be cut with it he becomes carrion.’ The Guru replied: ‘Dear Shaikh, here it is:–

Truth is the knife, truth is pure steel;
Its fashion is altogether incomparable.
Put it on the hone of the Word,
And fit it into the scabbard. of merit.
If any one be bled with that, O Shaikh,
The blood of avarice will be seen to issue forth.
If man be slaughtered with it, he shall go to meet God,
O Nanak, and be absorbed in the sight of Him.’[Raamkali Kee Vaar]

On hearing this the Shaikh raised his head in amazement and said, ‘Well done. Thou hast seen God, and art dear to Him. God hath been very kind to me in that I have met thee. It would be rude to ask any further questions of those who are so beloved by Him.’ The Guru then volunteered the following:–

There is friendship between beauty and love, alliance between hunger and dainty viands;
Companionship between greed and wealth, between a sleepy man and a bed and coverlet. 
The anger which barketh is despised; it is vain to worry with worldly occupations.
To be silent, O Nanak, is good; without the Name the mouth is defiled.[Malhaar Kee Vaar]

The Shaikh asked the Guru to let him hear a strain in praise of the one God. ‘My idea is’, said the Shaikh, ‘that adoration cannot be performed without two beings, that is, God and the Prophet; Let me see whom thou makest man’s intercessor.’ The Guru called upon Mardana to play the rebeck and recite the first slok and pauri of the Asa ki War.

I am a sacrifice, Nanak, to my Guru a hundred times a day,
Who without any delay made demigods out of men.
Nanak, they who, very clever in their own estimation, think not of the Guru,
Shall be left like spurious sesames in a reaped field-
They shall be left in the field, saith Nanak, without an owner.
The wretches may even bear fruit and flower, but these shall be as ashes within their bodies.

God Himself created the world and Himself gave names to things.
He made Maya by His power; seated He beheld His work with delight.
O Creator, Thou art the Giver; being pleased Thou bestowest and practisest kindness.
Thou knowest all things; Thou givest and takest life with a word.
Seated Thou beholdest Thy work with delight. [Aasa Kee Vaar]

Shaikh Brahm asked the Guru for further instruction. The Guru then spoke on the subject of humility, and said that as water, which resteth lowly on the earth, riseth under pressure into the air in sparkling fountains, so they who preserve a humble mind mount to God’s highest pinnacle.

The Shaikh then rose to take his leave, and said, ‘O Nanak, thou hast found God. There is no difference between Him and thee. Kindly grant that I too may be on good terms with Him.’ The Guru replied, ‘Shaikh Brahm, God will cause thy cargo also to arrive safe.’ By this the Guru meant that God would accept the Shaikh’s devotion. The Shaikh requested the Guru to give him a certain promise of this, and the Guru complied. They then shook hands and parted.